I hate the Elliptical: Advice?

LilacDreamer
LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
edited November 10 in Fitness and Exercise
Every time we go to the gym, I head for the treadmill. I have tried the elliptical machine a couple of times but I have no upper body strength (just started using weight machines last week) and it is sooo hard that I never do more than a minute or 2 on the elliptical.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or how to approach this, but I feel like I'm missing out on a machine that could benefit me.


I want to move on from the treadmill....Advice is appreciated.

Replies

  • emma7437
    emma7437 Posts: 225 Member
    I agree, I also hate the elliptical. When I first started with my trainer I could barely manage like two minutes. I only do 6 1/2 minutes now, but in a PT session that is a fair amount of time. I do interval training on it, so a minute slow but with high resistance and then a one or one and a half minute sprint with lower resistance. Somewhere along the way it has got easier, or not easier but I can do more time on it. This seems to be the way to go - interval training. Not sure this will help but may work for you, knowing to break it down in to small sessions and slowly build them up.
  • emma7437
    emma7437 Posts: 225 Member
    Good luck with it though. Its feels good once you know you are getting better.
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    Bump :)
  • michael300891
    michael300891 Posts: 275
    Hi, many people love the elliptical machine and find it useful but a LOT of scientific research has shown it to be the most ineffective of the typical cardio machines for burning fat, building muscle and improving cardiovascular function. Keep using the treadmill in preference, it is much better for you. If you want to improve upper body strength try rowing, you will get MUCH better results than the elliptical machine in terms of upper body strength! Hope this helps.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    Just don't do it. I hated mine and gave it away. There are plenty of other things to do for cardio. Screw the elliptical.
  • michael300891
    michael300891 Posts: 275
    Or, if your in a large gym joing a boxercise class, watch the weight fall off you, and its fun to =)
  • Hoakiebs
    Hoakiebs Posts: 430 Member
    You don't have to use the arm bars that move, at least on our machines, they have stationary arms in the middle to hold on to.
  • DeenieWeenie
    DeenieWeenie Posts: 149 Member
    I wonder what the settings were on? My elliptical is hard when the tension is up a lot! Might want to see if the hardest settings are in place. Should be pretty easy to move the feet pedals around.
  • michael300891
    michael300891 Posts: 275
    You don't have to use the arm bars that move, at least on our machines, they have stationary arms in the middle to hold on to.

    Yes but doing this will reduce the accuracy of the calorie burn further, suggesting that you burn more calories than you actually are, it will also not help towards the issue of low upper body strength and it generally makes the exercise even more ineffective as you will being moving less and using more momentum as you have a stabilising point to lean on.
  • bbysars
    bbysars Posts: 36 Member
    Don't use it.
  • Sixalicious
    Sixalicious Posts: 283 Member
    I initially hated the elliptical. It was when I first started out and had zero strength and zero endurance. I couldn't go more than a two or three minutes before throwing in the towel. One day, something just came over me. I hopped off the treadmill and told myself that I would not be defeated by a machine. I hopped on and made myself so five minuttes. The rest is history. LOL I rarely bother with the treadmill anymore. Since I don't run, it's a waste of my time unless I am speed walking on the highest incline. If you really want to use it, use the leg motion only to get used to it, but work on building your upper body strength. I hated using my arms before and just learned to balance myself without holding on, but now that I have upper body strength I find it hard not to ue my arms. You'll get to that point soon. It just takes time, energy, and determination.
  • thefuzz1290
    thefuzz1290 Posts: 777 Member
    Wow, all this elliptical hate! LOL

    I hate the treadmill and head for the elliptical. :P

    I actually find the elliptical easier, even on higher/moderate resistance, since I sort of "plod" when I run. But like everyone else said, if you hate it, don't do it. You're better off doing something you enjoy than something you hate.
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